PlayStation 5 Year 1
Two generations ago I stopped getting Sony consoles first, this generation however, I’ve change my approach. Some might say, I have changed my ways and come back to go light side. I just decided it would be better for me to come home to PlayStation as my main console, the first time since the PlayStation 2(PS2). I have now had the PlayStation 5 (PS5) for a year, and I thought wouldn’t it be great if I gave some of my thoughts on the latest console.
Sony have now said the official drought of PS5’s is over. Which makes sense as tracking down one of these was hard. Find it was simple thought, I set up alerts and finally in November of 2021 I got my hands one. Which I didn’t official play something till Boxing Day, but when I did I was taken in by the console. One of the things I didn’t get used to was the size of the thing. I knew it was going to be big, nut I didn’t think I was be so big! It’s so big! it couldn’t take up the space I had reserved for the PS4. However, I get why I needs to be so big for what it needs to do, but this will be one console like the original PS3, if they make a slim would be great.
Design wise I was initially alarmed by how it looked, when I first saw the leaked photos. Now I have it in my home I’m happy with it. It like that it has a nice two tone colour scheme. I do like the fact Sony have released outer shells to make it a little more personal. It’s just a shame these are so expensive, but I would like to have an all-black one and make it look somewhat like the PS2. You know, the greatest gaming generation (come at me). I like that it has lights on both sides as well which give it a nice ambient lighting effect. But one thing that is very clear from the design, they didnt want to put a disc drive on it, which is why, the first time I put in a disc I put it in wrong, as it isn’t where you would expect a disc to go.
As for the displays of the system it looks great. It’s always nice when I turn on my tv the HDR symbol pops up, to tell me is proper adapted to it capabilities. As I have a 4K tv I have that as my native resolution, which just looks great. It fills the screen and just makes everything looks vibrate and really gives you that sense of detail. From the start animation to the static picture that represents all the applications. The UI is just a upgraded version of the PS4 which is nice, as it feels like an evolution for the XmeidaBar. However, it isnt perfect as you can’t make folders on the Home Screen, which is some I miss from the previous console. It is nice how you can see everything going on with a title from its homepage. It gives you information like: trophies, DLC, videos and progress. It makes a better user experience than having to jump all over the place. Shame the same can’t be said about turning off the system as that is only located in one place, weird.
One thing that has had a jump is the controller. We have officially lost the DualShock name of 4 generations in replacement of the DualSense. Which is a great controller even though it small percentage smaller than the DualShock 4. However, it doesn’t stop the controller feeling nice, and keeping some of the best aspect of the previous controllers features; with the microphone and LED’s on the front, and still having L2 and R2 as triggers, which a lot more pressure sensitive. Which helps in some games, and some you really need to use in some games.
With the PS5 you get Astros Playroom which is a very nice included demo, to show off the power of the PS5, as well a nice visual history guide to what came before. While also showing off the potential uses for the dual sense. Even though it is a short game it’s still a nice time to, get yourself to grips with the system. For me though, I haven’t got a lot games that have been made for the system.
Even through I’ve had the system for a year, a lot of the games I played on it are games I had for PS4, with some getting a next gen upgrade. While a lot of games that being sold as PS5 games still getting a previous generation release, which is kind of one the things holding it back. With only the. Graphics being the only thing in most cases that is getting the upgrade. Which is why I feel, even though I am enjoying what I’m playing, there wasnt anything that really blow me away. Which I thought would have happened by now since we are two years into the consoles life.
I think that is my biggest criticism of the system really. That too many of the games are trying to make money by being on as many systems they can. I dont know if that is due to console shortages, or thinking the market isn’t ready. It’s wild to think that going into the third year and only now a handful of games are just about to be only released for current gen only. When I think about previous generations, and how anything for the PS3 wouldn’t be coming out of the PS2; or the PS2 to PS1. But what can I say, thats how things are. If my biggest criticism is the lack of content, it can’t be all bad, can it?
For me no. I got the PS5 because I wanted to play the best version of some of the games I had. Which I have now done. With some guy like Resident Evil 2, 3 & Biohazard getting updates, so I can then play it with HDR 4K and other improvements. While also allowing me to once again just play the previous generations games without a problem. I just plug in my USB and there are all my PS4 games ready to play, with no hassle. Do I like the system, yes I do, I played it the most in 2022, as I now see it as now my main console. While also it becoming my main DVD, and Blu-ray player. Would I recommended it? If you want one get it. If you waiting for a game you need for it for I’d said wait. As many are still playable on PS4 or Xbox One.
Like with all gaming systems there are always positives and negatives. Sometimes these negatives are fixed with system updates, and then they are no longer issues. While a lot of the time the positives out weight the negative. With the PS5 I feel it’s definitely the former. Like I say my only issue is the games. But seeing that I have many games in my back catalogue, it’s not a major complaint yet. Then the only other issue is the software, with removing some of the things that previous systems had. I dont think it’s too much of an issue. Seeing as I used it over my Xbox must mean I like it. And I do, so for me my first year with the PS5 has been good, I hope the next year is just as good if not better. I’m glad to be back on terms with the PlayStation brand.
